PM seeks explanation from Mushahidullah over controversial interview

ISLAMABAD: The government has refuted the interview of one of its ministers accusing the former ISI chief’s involvement in a plot against the government.

The Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah in interview to BBC had claimed that former DG ISI Lt. Gen. Zaheer-ul-Islam wanted to overthrow Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Raheel Sharif from power and take over the state.

Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rasheed strongly denied any such development last year, adding that the premier has already taken strict notice of it and sought explanation from the minister for giving such false statement.

He further said that he used to remain with the prime minister those days and had not seen any such development where the prime minister was presented with such audiotape.

The information minister said that neither any tape was given to the PM nor was it shown to Army Chief.

He said that Prime Minister Nawaz was disturbed over the interview and has sought an explanation from Mushahidullah Khan.

The Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan had said that former DG ISI Lt. General Zaheer-ul-Islam wanted to overthrow Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Raheel Sharif from power and take over the state.

The PML-N leader claimed that the conspiracy was exposed when several audio tapes of the former DG ISI was recorded by Intelligence Bureau in which he was directing certain elements on how to spread anarchy during the sit-ins by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) last year.

Meanwhile, the Premier has sought Mushahidullah’s clarification on his statements.

A spokesman of PM House has stated that the government is unaware of any such audio tape.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesman Major-General Asim Bajwa stated that the story regarding any tape is baseless and the rumors are irresponsible.

The story about any tape recording as being discussed in media is totally baseless,unfounded &farthest from truth-1/2